Schumer hits IOC for picking Russia

Sen. Chuck Schumer slammed the International Olympic Committee on Monday for selecting Russia to host the just-concluded Winter Olympics, urging changes to how host nations are selected.

The day after the games finished in Sochi, Russia, Schumer put out a statement criticizing giving a nation with a history of human rights violations the chance to host the games and said that countries’ records on human rights should factor in to future hosting decisions.

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“It boggles my mind that the IOC chose to play these games in Sochi at all,” the New York Democrat said. “Unfortunately, awarding the Olympic Games to a bad actor does not seem to be a rare occurrence for the Olympics. In the past six years, we have had two countries with shoddy human rights records hosting the games – Russia and China. And I believe we are sending the wrong message by continuing to give a platform to these countries and their leaders by awarding them the most precious international sporting event we have.”

Schumer listed anti-gay propaganda laws, workers’ rights and an unfriendly climate for journalists as reasons Russia should not have been granted the games.

The third-ranking Democrat in the Senate said he would send a letter to the IOC asking for changes Tuesday, to join a letter sent by 33 human rights groups to the committee, as well.

While the games went off mostly without a hitch, controversy swirled around the games’ lead-up for security concerns, the anti-gay laws and the nation’s frosty relationship with the United States, drawing scrutiny from a number of lawmakers.